Ambulant discharge irrigating device



July 7,- 1959 A. J. GORDON AMBULANT DISCHARGE IRRIGATING DEVICE s Sheets-Sheet Filed June 18, 1956 R m m m July 7, 1959 A. J. GORDON I 2,893,643 I AMBULANT arson-macs IRRIGATING DEVICE Filed June 18, 1956 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 tcd Stats Pat AMBULANT DISCHARGE IRRHGATING DEVICE Allen J. Gordon, Petersburg, Ind. Application June 18, 1956, Serial No. 591,826

18 Claims. (Cl. 239-177) This invention relates to improvements in irrigation devices, and more particularly to devices capable of irrigating large areas of land at a single setting.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device of this character having an elongated irrigating pipe connected at one end to a source of water and rotated bodily relative to that end for the purpose of substantially uniformly distributing water over the area traversed by said rotating pipe.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having an elongated irrigating pipe swiveled at one end thereof to a water source, with a plurality of wheeled supports therefor spaced along the length thereof and provided with means for propelling the same through power derived from the flow of water in the pipe.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a plurality of wheeled spaced self-propelled towers each supporting a section of an elongated irrigating pipe swiveled at one end thereof to a water source, wherein each tower has means associated therewith for correlating its rate of travel to the rate of travel of the portion of the pipe supported thereby, so that the rate of travel of each individual tower will be modulated according to the rate of travel of the adjacent towers.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having wheeled self-propelled pipe-supporting towers having novel drive transmission means for actuating each of the supporting wheels of the tower in a manner to provide a substantially steady drive of the wheels at all times.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having movable towers with novel means for suspending a movable pipe from the towers in a manner to accommodate freedom of movement between each tower and the pipe within predetermined limits to facilitate the mainte nance of a straight shape of the pipe in event of deviation of adjacent supporting towers from true aligned relation with the pipe.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a self-propelled structure for supporting a section of a movable pipe, and water power means for propelling the structure including a modulating valve which is controlled in response to variation of the positional relationship of the structure to adjacent structures.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having an elongated pipe connected to revolve about an intake and supported by a plurality of spaced traveling towers which suspend the pipe, the outermost tower being spaced inwardly from the outer end of the pipe.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein a plurality of self-propelled towers having independent propulsion means are employed to support adjacent sections of an elongated pipe, wherein each tower has modulating means controlled by means connected to the towers adjacent thereto and operable in the event of disalignment of any tower relative to the towers on opposite sides thereof to vary the setting of said modulating means and thereby vary the speed of travel of the disaligned tower without requiring stressing of the irrigation pipeincident to such disalignment.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a plurality of water power actuated self-propelled spaced towers supporting adjacent sections of an elongated irirgation pipe rotatable around a water supply, wherein the outermost tower has a manually adjustable modulating valve for determining the speed of travel thereof, and wherein each of the other towers has a modulating valve operating in response to deviations in the position of the associated tower from a true radial position between the center of rotation and the position of the outermost tower for automatically modulating the poweroperated drive means of said associated tower in a sense and to an extent as required to restore the position of the tower to proper alignment relative to the irrigating pipe supported thereby and the positions of the other supporting towers.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a plurality of self-propelled vertically elongated towers for suspending sections of an elongated rotatable irrigation pipe, in which the suspension means cooperate with the pipe to hold the towers against tilting.

A further object is to provide a traveling irrigation device having an elongated movable irrigation pipe suspended from a plurality of spaced movable supports, with means for deenergizing the device in the event stress is applied to the elongated irrigating pipe as a result of failure of any of said supports to travel at a speed correlated to the speed of the portion of the pipe supported thereby.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a schematic view illustrating the arrangement of the device in an area to be irrigated;

Fig. 2 is a view of the device in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the device illustrating a plurality of towers and interconnections between adjacent towers;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of alignment control means utilized in the device;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a slightly modified construetion illustrating a water power actuating mechanism and drive means for a tower;

Fig. 6 is an axial sectional view of a modulating valve employed in the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 and taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6;

' proved device shown schematically at 12 in Fig. 1 which traverses a circular area outlined by the line 14 relative to a central point 16 in the field. A swivel coupling of the spacing thereof from the swivel coupling 16. The

conduit 18 is supported by self-propelled towers 221m ing supporting wheels 24 whose axes are parallel to said conduit. The water supply may constitute a well located at the central point 16, or a central outlet connected by underground conduit means 26 located at sutlicient depth to be free from interference with plant growth and cultivating implements, said conduit 26 extending to a well or other source of water supply 28.

The conduit 18 may be of any diameter and material and will preferably be made up of a number of sections of pipe connected together by sealed joints in the manner well understood in the art, to produce a total assembled conduit of the length necessary to reach to the limits of the area to be irrigated. It is contemplated that the assembled conduit 18 may be as long as one-fourth of a mile or even longer. The towers 22 will be constructed of substantial height, for example, a height of from to feet, or even more in cases where the conduit is to be supported at an elevation above head height, for example, at an elevation of seven or eight feet above the ground, to facilitate travel of tractors and agricultural implements thereunder. The towers 22 will preferably be spaced substantially uniformly, with the spacing therebetween preferably being in the order of 100 feet, although this spacing is cited as illustrative and is not intended to be limiting. The arrangement of the towers is preferably that shown in Fig. 2, in which it will be seen that the innermost tower, i.e., the tower closest to the swivel coupling 16, is spaced from the swivel coupling 16 a distance approximately one-half the spacing between adjacent towers. It is also preferred that the outermost tower, that is, the tower located farthest from the swivel coupling 16, will be spaced inwardly from the end of the conduit 18 approximately one-half the spacing between adjacent towers.

The towers 22 are strong and rigid and may be constructed in any manner found suitable. As here shown, towers 22 include upright rigid parts which preferably converge at their upper ends and are fixed secured together by cross-members 32. Two wheels 24 support the tower and may be of any construction found suitable. Wheels 24 preferably have a broad metal tread 34 from which project radially outwardly lugs or plates 36 spaced substantially uniformly therearound and extending substantially coextensively with the width of the tread, as illustrated in Fig. 10. Apertures 38 may be provided in the lugs 36 at the center thereof.

The towers 22 permit the conduit 18 to pass freely therethrough parallel to the axles of the wheels 24, and in the preferred form there will be no obstacles between the uprights 30 of the tower at the area through which the conduit 18 passes, so that the orientation or position of the pipe horizontally relative to the tower may change from that illustrated in Fig. 3 or Fig. 4. Also the control member 42 and the valve 54 may be positioned at different elevations relative to the conduit 18, the same being shown above said conduit in Fig. 3 and below said conduit in Fig. 5, and being actuated by similar means and in similar manner in both embodiments. A plurality of guy wires 40 are anchored at or adjacent to the top of each tower and diverge downwardly therefrom to be connected to and to support the conduit 18 at different points along the length of the portion of the conduit adjacent to the tower. Thus, if towers are spaced apart 100 feet, a plurality of guy wires of different lengths will extend from the upper part of each tower to substantially equally spaced points in the 100-foot section adjacent to each tower to provide substantially uniform support for the conduit.

Each tower 22 will have associated therewith any suitable means for holding it in stable erect position. One stabilizing and controlling arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3 and another arrangement is shown in Fig. 4. Each form entails slidable guided mounting upon each tower adjacent to conduit 18 of -a substantially horizontal rod 42 extending transversely ofconduit 13 and having forked ends 44 spaced laterally outwardly from the tower in the normal relation of the parts. Tensioned wires 46 pass through the forks 44 of each rod 42 and are anchored to the two adjacent towers. Thus, referring to Fig. 3, wires 46a are anchored at their righthand ends at 48 to the tower 22b intermediate the height thereof and are similarly anchored to the next tower to the left of tower 22a (not shown in Fig. 3), and the intermediate portions of the wires 46a are passed through the forks 44 at the ends of the rod 42 slidable endwise on the tower 22a. Wires 46b are fixedly anchored at points 48 of towers 22a and 220 and pass through the forks 44 of the control rod 42 of tower 22b. Wires 46c are anchored at their ends at 43 to tower 22b and to the tower to the right of 220 (not shown in Fig. 3), with the central portion thereof passed through the forks 44 of the control rod 42 of the tower 220. It will be observed that each of the wires in the Fig. 3 construction is located in laterally spaced relation to conduit 18 throughout its length.

The construction illustrated in Fig. 4 diflfers from that in Fig. 3 in that the wires extend diagonally between the towers in intersecting relation to conduit 18. Thus wires 47a are connected at 49 to the tower 23b and to the tower to the left of 23a (not shown in Fig. 4). From these points of connection each wire extends diagonally between the adjacent towers to engage the fork 45 on the control rod 43 projecting laterally of the tower 2311 at the side thereof opposite that at which the ends of said wire are connected to the towers. Thus the wires 47a cross each other twice, i.e., between the tower 23a and each of the adjacent towers. Similar arrangements are provided for similar Wires, such as the wires 47b and 47c, along the entire length of the irrigation device.

It will be seen that the arrangements of both Figs. 3 and 4 are such that any displacement of one tower from a substantially aligned relation to the other towers will produce an endwise sliding or movement of the control rod 42 of said displaced or disaligned tower. In other words, the rods 42 are normally centered relative to the towers with substantially equal portions thereof projecting laterally at opposite sides of the tower, and any disalignment of a tower, due to lagging or leaning thereof relative to the other towers, displaces the related control rod 42 relative to the mounting tower. Thus, if tower 22b lags relative to the towers 220 and 22c, the wires 46 will tend to move the control rod 42 of the tower 22b in a manner to maintain alignment of said rod with the adjacent towers and in the direction required to re- ,'store alignment of tower 22b with the other towers of the irrigation device. The tension of the wires 46 determines the sensitivity of the control. Thus, if the wires are drawn taut without substantial slack, only a slight disalignment of any tower relative to the other can occur. If slack occurs, the amount thereof will determine the extent of disalignment of towers which can occur as a result of lag in the response of the slack wires to disalignment of the towers. Any means for tensioning or controlling the tension of wires 46, such as turnbuckles, may be employed in the device to control the degree or extent of permissible disalignment of tower, and to correct the setting of the device at any point or points along the length of the device at which excessive deviation of the towers from desired alignment is observed in the operation of the device.

Each of the towers is self-propelled. I prefer to employ means powered by the pressure of the water in the irrigating system for powering the propulsion means. Such propulsion means preferably constitutes a power member 50, a reversing valve 52 associated with the power member and controlled thereby, and a modulating member or valve 54 for controlling the rate of flow of water to the power member 59. The power member is connected with suitable mechanical means responsive to the movement thereof for driving the wheels 24 of the towers to advance the same.

The power member 50 iscarried by the frame in any suitable manner as by means of a substantially U-shaped frame part 56, 57 spaced below the conduit 18 and located adjacent to the wheels 24. The power member 50 preferably constitutes a cylinder slidably receiving a piston 58 having a piston rod 60 projecting from one end thereof. The parts are preferably so oriented that the piston and cylinder have their axes positioned horizon- "tally so that the piston rod 60 is adapted to travel endwise in a substantially horizontal direction. A conduit 62 connects one end of the cylinder 50 to the reversing valve-52 and a conduit 63 connects the other end of the power cylinder to the reversing valve 52.

They piston rod 60 serves to actuate the mechanical wheel drive means which, as shown in Fig. 5, are designed to cause the tower to travel toward the right. An elongated substantially upright lever 64 is pivotally connected at 66 to the outer end of the piston rod 60 in a manner to accommodate swinging of the rod 60 about a pivot 68 between the same and the frame member 57. Thus pivot 66 preferably constitutes pin and slot'connection, as seen in Fig. 9. A pair of pusher arms 70, 71 are pivotally connected at 72 and 73, respectively, to the lever 64 at opposite sides of the lever pivot 68. Pusher rod 70 is preferably shorter than pusher rod 71. Each of the rods preferably includes a shoulder 74 spaced from its end and a camming tip. 76. The shoulders 74 are adapted to engage the lugs 36 upon the tread 34 of the leading or right wheel 24, as viewed in Figs. 5 and 9. Puller rods 78 and 79 are pivotally connected to the lever 64, preferably at the pivots 72 and 73 thereof, respectively, and extend toward the trailing Wheel 24 to engage the lugs thereof. Each of the puller bars 78 and 79 has a hook defining notch 80 spaced from its end, and a tapered tip 82. The arrangement thus provides means for driving each of the Wheels 24 upon each stroke of the power member 50. Thus it will be observed that upon clockwise movement of the lever 64 the members 71 and 79 will travel toward the right so that the shoulder 74 of the member 71 will push against a lug on the leading wheel 24, and the notch 80 will engage a lug on the trailing wheel 24, and thus equally and simultaneously advance the wheels 24. Upon the reverse stroke of the power member, swinging the lever 64 counter-clockwise, the members 70 and 78 will travel bodily toward the right, as seen in Fig. 9, causing the shoulder 74 of the member 70 to push upon a lug 36 of the leading wheel 24 and causing the notch 80 of the trailing member 78 to engage a lug of the trailing wheel and move it bodily toward the right. Consequently, a steady traction is provided in both wheels regardless of the direction of travel of the piston 58 in the power member 50.

A quick throw valve 52 is controlled by the power member 50 and serves to reverse that power member. One such reversing valve is shown in Fig. 8, for purposes of illustration, but it will be understood that other constructions may be used if desired.

The valve comprises a valve body or block 90 having a pair of spaced parallel bores or passages 92 and 93 ;therein. Passages 94 and 95, to which the conduits 62 and 63 are respectively connected, extend alongside the bores 92 and 93 and communicate therewith respectively at spaced points. Inlets 96 and 97 communicate with the passages 94 and 95, respectively, preferably at one end thereof, and in turn are connected to inlet conduits 98 and 99, respectively. Exhaust passages 100 and 101 are formed in the body 90 spaced from the passages 96 and 97 and communicate with the passages 94 and 95, respectively. Apertured sprinkler heads or other exhaust means 102 communicate with each of the passages 100 and 101.

Spool type valve members 104 and 105 are slidable endwise in the bores 92 and 93, respectively. Each spool member has a reduced diameter portion 106 adapted for register with the inlet passage 96 or 97 in one position thereof, as illustrated at the left in Fig. v8, and adapted to be out of register with said passage in the other position thereof, as illustrated at the right in Fig. 8. Each spool has a second circumferential groove 108 spaced from the groove 106 a distance less than the spacing be-.

tween the inlet and exhaust passages associated with each spool, so that it is clear of the associated exhaust passage when the other reduced portion 106 is in register with the inlet and vice versa. A circumferential seal 110, preferably consisting of a resilient annular sealing member seated in a groove in the spool and having frictional engagement with the bore of the valve body and the base of the groove in which it is received, is located between the reduced portions 106 and 108 of each spool. Other circumferential seals 112 are located between each of the reduced portions 106 and 108 and the adjacent end of the spool.

Each spool is of a length to project from the body 90 at one end portion 114 thereof in all operative positions. The intermediate portion of the body 90 preferably carries a projection 116 to which is pivoted at 118 the mid portion of the cross-head 120 of a substantially T-shaped lever having a central arm portion 122. Each end portion of the cross-head 120 has an elongated slot 123 formed therein which slidably receives a pin 124 carried by the projecting portion 114 of the adjacent spool. The part 122 of the T-shaped lever projects beyond the end of the part 116 and a coil spring 126 is anchored to the member 116 and to the free end portion of the lever part 122 at 128. The point 129 of anchorage of the spring 126 to the member 116 is preferably so oriented relative to the pivot axis 118 that a line drawn between the centers thereof will be parallel to the axes of the spools 104 and 105. A rod or arm 130 is pivotally connected to the end of the arm 122 and is guided for sliding movement in a direction transverse of the lever 64 in any suitable means (not shown) and will be positioned in intersecting relation to the lever 64. A stop 132 is fixedly mounted upon the rod 130 spaced from the end thereof, and a second stop 133 is mounted upon the end of the rod 130. The lever 64 is positioned between the two stops 132 and 133.

The parts are so related that during the intermediate portion of the stroke of the lever 64 by the power member 50, the lever 64 travels free and clear of the two stops 132 and 133. Thus, assuming that the power member 50 is moving toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 5, the

The quick throw of the member 122 reverses the positions of the two spools 104 and 105 and thus reverses the flow path for liquid passing through the quick throw reversing valve 52. The power member is thus caused to reverse its direction of operation and start to move toward the left, with free play occurring until such time as the lever 64 engages the stop 133 and moves it and the rod 130 toward the left to an over-center position, whereupon the spring 126 again comes into play and causes the member 122 to be swung to the full line position in Fig. 5 from the position shown in Fig. 8. v

The two lines 98 and 99 branch from conduit connected to the modulating valve 54 at the outlet of that valve. The inlet of the valve 54, is connected to conduit 142 which in turn is connected to and com,-

municates with the conduit 18. The valve 54 may be of any type found suitable for regulating the rate of flow.

member having a control arm 144 projecting therefrom and adapted to be connected at its free end to the crossrod or control rod 42 at the center of that rod, as seen in Fig. 5. The valves 54 will preferably be mounted in fixed relation to the towers 22. The valves 54 and rods 42 may be positioned above conduit 18 as seen in Fig. 3, or below conduit 18 as seen in Fig. 5. The arrangement will preferably be such that when the rod 42 is substantially centered relative to the tower, the valve 54 will be open partially only. If a tower is in a lagging relation relative to the other towers, the control member 42 'will swing the valve control arm 144 in a direction to fully open the valve 54. In the event that the tower is in a position to lead the other towers, the control member will be operative to move the valve control 144 in a direction to reduce the rate of flow of water through the valve 54. Consequently, the modulating valve 54 will control the rate of flow of water from the conduit 18 to the power member and thereby control the rate of speed at which each tower is driven. The tower in turn has the control means 42 thereof associated with the cross-wires 46 or 47, previously described, so that its position is determined by the relation of the tower carrying the same relative to the positions of the adjacent towers.

It will he understood that the outermost tower, that is, the tower positioned nearest the free end of the conduit 13 as viewed in Fig. 2, will not be provided with a control member 42 and, instead, the modulating valve 54 thereof will be provided with a manually adjustable control member. The setting of this control member will control the rate of speed of the outermost tower, and the rates of speed of each of the other towers will be correlated thereto, depending upon the spacing thereof or the relation thereof to said outermost tower and said swivel coupling 16.

It is interesting to observe that in this construction no stress is applied to the conduit 18 at any time. Thus control of the modulating valves and related hydraulic or water power motive means is effected from the towers through the cross-wires 46, 47 and the control members 42. This leaves the conduit in a condition in which it is suspended from elongated wires 40 and is free to maintain a straight line shape at all times. The sensitivity and accuracy of the control effected by the cross-wires 46-47 of the Fig. 4 arrangement, when properly tensioned, reduces deviation of tower relation from true alignment of towers so that deviations are negligible and substantially unnoticed. This permits the conduit 18 to be fixedly connected to the towers, if desired. Consequently, the conduit need only be strong enough and stiff enough to maintain its shape under the load of the water contained therein. This makes possible the use of conduit of light gauge and reduction to a minimum of the weight of the structure which is supported by the towers. This is an important factor by reason of the fact that the traction of the wheels of the towers must always be secured at land which is under irrigation and hence is likely to be in muddy condition. For this purpose the wheels must be of substantial size, and I prefer to employ wheels of a size of from. eighteen to thirty inches in diameter, or even larger. The lugs upon the wheels serve to impart traction to the wheels in addition to serving as part of the drive mechanism of the device. The apertures 38 in the lugs 36 reduce the likelihood of caking of dirt upon the lugs and facilitate Washing of adhered soil from the lugs. In this connection the sprinkler heads 102 on the quick-throw valve 52 will preferably be oriented and positioned to direct water discharged from the rcversing valve onto the drive wheels 24 for cleaning purposes.

The hydraulic circuit of the device, assuming the valve setting as shown in Fig. 8, is as follows: Flow occurs from conduit 18, through conduit 142, modulating valve 54, conduit 140 and 98, valve passages 96 and 94, to conduit 62, for entry into the righthand end of the power cylinder 50, as viewed in Fig. 5. The lefthand end of the power cylinder 50 discharges liquid trapped therein from the previous stroke to the conduit 63 to the valve passages and 101, for discharge at the sprinkler head 192 connected with the passage 101. This setting continues until the rod swings the lever 122 over center and reverses the setting of the two spools 104 and 105. When this occurs, inlet line 99 is open into communication with the power member 50, and inlet member 98 is closed by the reversing valve. Thereupon the line 63 becomes the inlet line to the power member 50, and the line 62 becomes the outlet from the power memebr 50. In that instance the discharge of water from line 62 enters the valve body for discharge through the passage 100 and the sprinkler head 102 connected with said passage 160.

Safety means may be incorporated in the device to insure that the complete device will be rendered inoperative in the event the propulsion means of any of the towers is rendered inoperative. Such safety means may take the form of a control switch carried by the leading frame member 30 of each tower and preferably having a shiftable switch actuator 152 positioned to be engaged by the conduit 18 in the event the conduit 18 is swung to a position approaching the leading tower frame member 30. The various switches will preferably be connected in series in an electrical circuit (not shown) leading to the motor which operates the pump which supplies water to the conduit 18. By means of such arrangement it will be apparent that if the propulsion means of any tower becomes inoperative while the other towers continue to operate and advance, so that the conduit 18 is brought to a position approaching engagement with the leading side of the frame and in which it would tend to drag the non-functioning tower with it, thereby imposing bending stresses upon the conduit, the switch 150 associated with the non-functioning tower will be operated to break the pump motor circuit and render the entire irrigation device static. An attendant can quickly determine the source of difficulty by locating the tower which has not been functioning properly and can make the necessary repairs and adjustments to restore the device to proper functioning condition, and can then reclose the switch to restore flow of water to and through the pipe 18 for proper functioning of the irrigation system.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate a type of modulating valve 54 which may be employed in this device. This valve preferably has a valve body having a bore 162 within which is rotatable a cylindrical valve plug member 164. The valve body has diametrically opposed bores 166 to which the conduits 140 and 142, respectively, are connected. The bores 166 preferably communicate with bore portions 168 which are reduced circumferentially and en'- larged longitudinally, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and open at the bore 162. The plug 164 preferably has a wide but thin opening 170 therethrough adapted in one angular position thereof to register with the opposed bore parts 168. Resilient annular seals 172 extends circumferentially of the plug 164 at opposite sides of the crosspassage 170 to effect a seal between the bore 162 and the plug 164, in the manner well understood in the art. The arm 144 is mounted upon an end of the plug 164 which projects front the valve body 160.

It will be understood, of course, that a modulating valve of this type is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting, since valves of other types may be employed with equal facility. It will also be apparent that the desired modulating functioning of the device can be secured in response to changes in the position of the member 42 by setting the arm 144 in desired angular relation to the cross-bore 170 of the valve member 164 when the member 42 is in neutral position, i.e., centered relative to the tower which mounts it. Thus, as previously described, the arm 144 may be so positioned as to permit only a restricted flow through the bore 170 between the pastower.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that changes in the construction may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: f

1. An irrigating device comprising an elongated irrigation conduit, a swivel coupling connecting one end of said conduit to a water source, a plurality of spaced wheeled structures, means freely suspending said conduit from said structures at spaced intervals,'each structure including means responsive to water pressure for propelling the structure, means interconnecting said conduit and said propulsion means for modulating each propulsion means, and control means connected to said modulating means and to each of the two next adjacent structures to be responsive to change in the relation ofits supporting structure to the adjacent structures and independent of said conduit for actuating the modulating means for the propulsion means of its supporting structure when subject to such change of relation.

2. An irrigating device comprising an elongated irrigation conduit, a swivel coupling connecting one end of said conduit to a water source, a plurality of spaced wheeled structures, means freely suspending said conduit from said structures at spaced intervals for movement relative thereto, each structure including means responsive to water pressure for propelling the structure, means interconnecting said conduit and said propulsion means for modulating each propulsion means, and control means shiftably carried by selected structures and each connected to adjacent structures at opposite sides of its supporting structure for actuating the modulating means which controls the propulsion means of its supporting structure.

3. An irrigating device comprising an elongated ir-- water pressure for propelling the structure, means interconnecting said conduit and said propulsion means for modulating each propulsion means, and control means independent of said conduit and each responsive to change in the relation between its mounting structure and the adjacent structures for actuating the modulating means for the propulsion means of its mounting structure, said last named means being connected to the modulating means of selected structures and to adjacent structures, said structures constituting towers and a plurality of elongated suspension members supported by each tower and connected at spaced intervals to said conduit for relative movement of said conduit and tower transversely of said conduit.

4. An irrigating device comprising an elongated ll'llgation conduit, a swivel coupling connecting one end of said conduit to a water source, a plurality of spaced wheeled structures supporting said conduit at spaced intervals, each structure including means responsive to water pressure for propelling the structure, means interconnecting said conduit and said propulsion means for modulating each propulsion means, and control means independent of said conduit and interconnecting the modulating means of selected structures with adjacent structures and each responsive to change in the relative positions of said interconnected structures for actuating in a position-correcting sense the modulating means for the propulsion means of its supporting structure, each structure constituting a tower, and elongated suspension members connected at spaced pointsto said conduit and supported by said tower to suspend said conduit for movement relative to said tower, said towers being located at predetermined intervals along the length of the conduit with the outermost tower spaced from the free end of the conduit substantially one-half the spacing between towers.

5. An irrigating device comprising an. elongated conduit connected at one end to a source of water by a swivel coupling, a plurality of spaced wheeled towers,

suspension means carried by eachtower for supporting the portion of said conduit adjacent thereto for relative movement between said tower and conduit, a water power motor connected 'to said conduit for driving each tower, a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each motor for controlling the rate of flow of water from said conduit to said motor, and valve control means independent of said conduit and each connected with a selected valve and with towers distant from the valve controlled thereby so as to be responsive to relative movement between said conduit and the tower whose movement is controlled by said valve.

6. An irrigating device comprising an elongated con'-.

duit connected at one end to a source of water by a swivel coupling, a plurality of spaced wheeled towers, suspension means carried by each tower for supporting the portion of saidconduit adjacent thereto for free movement relative to said tower, a water power motor connected to said conduit for driving each tower, a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each motor for controlling the rate of flow of water from said conduit to each motor, andmeans connecting selected valves with towers distant from said valves for modulating each valve responsive to a departure of its supporting tower from alignment with adjacent towers.

7. An irrigating device comprised an elongated conduit connected at one end to a source of water by a swivel coupling, a plurality of spaced wheeled towers, suspension means carried by each tower for supporting the portion of said conduit adjacent thereto for free movement relative to the tower, a water power motor connected to said conduit for driving each tower, a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and eachmotor for controlling the rate of flowof water from said conduit to each motor, the modulating valve of one tower being set to determine the speed of rotation of said conduit about said swivel coupling, and means including a part shiftably carried by each of the other towers and parts engaging said shiftable part and connected with adjacent towers for regulating the associated valve in response to lateral displacement of the tower associated therewith relative to the other towers.

{3. An irrigating device comprising an elongated condu t connected at one end to a source of water by a swivel coupling,ra plurality of spaced wheeled towers, suspension means carried by each tower for supporting the portion of said conduit adjacent thereto for free movement relative to the tower, a water power motor connected to said conduit for driving each tower, a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each motor for controlling the rate of flow of water from said conduit to said motor, means connected to alternate towers, and means shiftable on the intervening tower and connected with said last named means to be responsive to departure of said intervening tower from alignment with ad acent towers for regulating the valve of the intervening tower, said motor including a reciprocating double-acting driving member, at least one of said tower wheels having per pheral lugs, and drive mechanism actuated by said reciprocating member for engaging successive wheel lugs upon successive strokes of said driving member to advance said wheel.

9. An irrigating device comprising an elongated conduit connected at one end to a source of water by a swivel coupling, a plurality of spaced wheeled towers, suspension means carried by said towers for supporting the portion of said conduit adjacent thereto for relative movement betweensaid conduit and each tower, a water power a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each motor for controlling the rate of flow of water from said conduit to said motor, means connecting alternate towers, and means independentof said conduit and carried by each of the intervening towers and connected with said tower connecting means, each of said last named means being responsive to departure of its supporting tower from alignment with adjacent towers for regulating the valve associated with its supporting tower, said motor including a reciprocating double-acting driving member, at least one of said tower wheels having peripheral lugs, and drive mechanism actuated by said reciprocating member and including a pair of members for alternately engaging each wheel lugs and advancing said wheel.

10. An irrigating device comprising an elongated conduit connected at one end to source of water by a swivel coupling, a plurality of spaced wheeled towers, suspension means carried by each tower for supporting the portion of said conduit adjacent thereto for relative movement between said conduit and each tower, a water power motor connected to said conduit for driving each tower, a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each motor for controlling the rate of flow of water from said conduit to said motor, means connecting alternate towers, shiftable means on the intervening towers engaging said last named means to be shiftably responsive to departure of its supporting tower from alignment with adjacent towers, said shiftable means regulating the valve of its supporting tower, said motor including a reciprocating double-acting driving member, at least one of said tower wheels having peripheral lugs, a lever pivoted to said tower and connected to said reciprocating member, and a pair of wheel lug engaging members connected to said lever at opposite sides of the pivotal connection between said lever and tower.

11. An irrigating device comprising an elongated conduit connected at one end to a source of water by a swivel coupling, a plurality of spaced wheeled towers, suspension means carried by each tower for supporting the portion of said conduit adjacent thereto for relative movement between said conduit and each tower, water power motor connected to said conduit for driving each tower, a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each motor for controlling the rate of flow of water from said conduit to each motor, means connecting alternate towers, a member shiftably carried by the intervening tower and engaging said last named means, said shiftable means controlling the valve of said intervening tower upon disalignment of said towers, said motor including a reciprocating double-acting driving member, said wheels having spaced peripheral lugs, a lever pivoted to said tower between said wheels and connected to said reciprocating member, and a pair of wheel lug engaging members connected to said lever and each engaging one of said wheels, one of said last named members driving a wheel and the other sliding freely past the other Wheel during each stroke of said reciprocating member.

12. An irrigating device comprising an elongated conduit connected at one end to a source of water by a swivel coupling, a plurality of spaced wheeled towers, suspension means carried by each tower for supporting the portion of said conduit adjacent thereto for relative movement between said conduit and each tower, a water power motor connected to said conduit for driving each tower, a modulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each motor for controlling the rate of flow of water from said conduit to each motor, means connecting alternate towers, a member shiftably carried by the intervening tower and engaging said last named means, said shiftable means controlling the valve of said intervening tower upon disalignment of said towers, said motor including a reciprocating double-acting driving member, said wheels having spaced peripheral lugs, a lever pivoted to said tower between said wheels and connected to said reciprocating member, and two pairs of wheel lug engaging members, the members of each pair being connected 12 to said lever at opposite sides of the pivot connection between said lever and frame to alternately engage and advance said wheel lugs during reciprocation of said motor. 7 V

13. An irrigating device comprising an elongated irrigation conduit, a swivel coupling connecting said conduit to a water source having a pump, a plurality of spaced wheeled structures, means carried by said structures for supporting said conduit at spaced intervals for relative horizontal movement between each structure and said conduit, water power propulsion means for actuating each tower, means connecting said propulsion means to each conduit, and pump control means spaced from said conduit and responsive to predetermined displacement of any tower relative to said conduit for deenergizing said pump, said pump control means including members interconnecting alternate towers, and a valve actuating member shiftably carried by the intervening tower and engaging said tower connecting members.

14. An irrigating device comprising an elongated irrigation conduit, a swivel coupling connecting said conduit to a water source having a pump, a plurality of spaced wheeled structures, means carried by said structures for supporting said conduit at spaced intervals for relative horizontal movement between each structure and said conduit, Water power propulsion means for actuating each tower, means connecting each propulsion means to said conduit, an electric circuit controlling operation of said pump, and a plurality of normally closed pumpcontrolling electric switches in said circuit, each switch being carried by a wheeled structure in the path of relative horizontal movement between said conduit and each structure whereby failure of the propulsion means of any structure, while other structures and said conduit are advanced, causes said conduit to advance relative to and engage and open the switch carried by the structure whose propulsion means has failed and thereby stop operation of said pump.

15. An irrigating device utilizing an elongated irrigation conduit connected to a water source by a swivel coupling, comprising a plurality of spaced self-propelled wheeled towers, conduit supporting means carried by each tower and suspending said conduit for free move ment relative to said towers, said towers normally being positioned in a row aligned with said conduit, water powered propulsion means carried by each tower and connected to said conduit, a regulating valve interconnecting said conduit and each propulsion means, a valve control member slidable horizontally on each tower transversely of said conduit and in the direction of the path of travel of said tower, and a plurality of elongated flexible substantially non-extensible members each connected fixedly at alternate towers and bearing against a free end of the control member on the intervening tower.

16. An irrigating device as defined in claim 15, wherein said non-extensible members are connected at said towers at one side of each tower and engage the end of the control member adjacent the opposite side of the intervening tower.

17. An irrigating device comprising an elongated irrigation conduit, a swivel coupling connecting one end of said conduit to a water source, a plurality of spaced wheeled structures supporting said conduit at spaced intervals for freedom of relative movement therebetween, each structure including means responsive to water pressure for propelling the structure, means interconnecting said conduit and said propulsion means for modulating each propulsion means, means connecting spaced structures, and means independent of said conduit and shiftably carried by selected structures and engaging said last named means to be responsive to change in the relative positions of said conduit and its supporting structure for actuating the modulating means for the propulsion means of its supporting structure.

18. An irrigating device comprising an elongated irrigation conduit, a swivel coupling connecting said conduit to a water source having a pump, a plurality of spaced wheeled structures, means carried by said structures for suspending said conduit at spaced intervals for free movement relative to said structures, water power propulsion means for actuating each tower and connected to said conduit, means interconnecting alternate towers, and means spaced from said conduit and connected to the propulsion means of selected towers and to said last named means to be responsive to disalignment of said towers for normally regulating each tower propulsion means, and pump control means on selected towers actuable by engagement of said conduit therewith upon predetermined disalignment of said towers for deenergizing said pump.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,604,359 Zybach July 22, 1952 10 2,628,863 Maggart Feb. 17, 1953 2,726,895 Behlen Dec. 13, 1955 

